Unless a player purposely reads every book they come across in Skyrim, it’s quite difficult to get a grasp of the history of the province and its extremely deep lore. There’s so much to Skyrim’s past, so much that explains why today the Nords dislike Elves, or why Dunmer and Orcs live in this northern province as well.
Like any province in Tamriel, Skyrim’s history is riddled with wars and discord. Governments have come and gone over the years, but it’s good to know the province has been inhabited since ancient times, leaving behind quite a number of historical locales and playing host to many momentous events. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the highlights from Skyrim’s history even seasoned players might not be familiar with.
10 The 13th King Is Historically The First
According to many scholars and many Nords, Ysgramor is considered the very first king and official ruler of Skyrim. However, since there’s no certainty over this, the fact remains somewhat disputed. As such, the first historical king of Skyrim properly recorded by history is the 13th king.
King Harald is the person behind a proper, central government in the province, and an actual Nordic government. At the time, the capital of Skyrim was in Windhelm, so it’s safe to say Harald sat on the very throne that Ulfric occupies during the events of Skyrim.
9 Two Disasters Explain The Presence Of Orcs And Dunmer
It’s no secret that Skyrim’s weather and environmental conditions are most unwelcoming towards those who can’t adjust and adapt to it. And yet, many travelers and other, non-Nordic races still come to the province for various reasons. Two good examples are the Dunmer and Orcs.
Why are these two races so present in Skyrim? Their presence can be explained by two events: the eruption of the Red Mountain, which turned many Dunmer into refugees headed for Skyrim, and the Oblivion crisis which led to Orsinium being sacked. As such, both races have left their homes in search of a better life.
8 Skyrim Has Been Ruled By Elves And Dragons
What makes Skyrim’s past difficult and controversial is how it has been ruled by non-human races as well. For one, it was once ruled by Elves, which is most likely why the Thalmor feel so strongly about Skyrim’s fate to this day.
Skyrim was also a hotspot for the evil Dragon Cult during its golden age. This is evidenced directly by the various Dragon Priest tombs scattered all around the province, as these priests were the human embodiments of the Dragons’ rule, and ensured all races would be enslaved according to their will.
7 The Evil Ally Of The Reachmen
Another major chain of events in Skyrim’s history has been the constant battling over who gets the rule The Reach, the southwestern regions of the province. Historically, the area has been populated by a special sub-race of Nords mixed with Elven and Breton blood, known today as the Forsworn.
Back when Skyrim was torn apart by civil war and discord, and the Reachmen still had control of their lands, the Forsworn actually allied themselves with a very dangerous figure who roamed the lands of Tamriel. Mannimarco was a famous High Elf necromancer who presented a serious threat to Tamriel and was even written about in one of the best books of Skyrim.
6 Humans Became Dominant Thanks To The Companions
During the events of Skyrim the Companions really don’t seem like much. They’re a guild that’s lacking in any real power, although they seem completely above Whiterun’s law and even receive a form of special treatment from the Jarl himself. Still, it’s clear that their glory days were ages ago.
And yet it was the Companions, or their roots, rather, who ensured that Skyrim could once be ruled by humans. Thanks to Ysgramor who first established the Companions, Skyrim was freed from the rule of Elves and returned to the Nords.
5 Skyrim Was Once Divided Into Two Kingdoms
The events of Skyrim during the Fourth Era aren’t as unique as one would imagine. The province has endured war and division multiple times in the past, only to always return to a previous state of glory. Civil wars, however, are nothing new to Nords.
During the Second Era, Skyrim was effectively divided into a Western and Eastern kingdom. At the time, the east was ruled by Queen Freydis in Windhelm, who was the rightful heir given the assassinated former High King was her father, and the west was ruled by Jarl Svartr in Solitude.
4 Nords Were Born At The Throat Of The World
There are many mythological tales about how mankind came about to be. Few seem to be in agreement on the matter, but one thing is for certain: it’s a mysterious process that defies conventional articulation. One theory concerns the highest point in all of Tamriel (now that the Red Mountain is no more): the Throat of the World.
It’s said that Nords were created here, that life was breathed into them at this mountain before they spread around the province to claim their land. Another theory, a more historical and plausible one, speaks about Nedic people who were precursors to most human races in Skyrim, including Nords and Imperials.
3 The Skyforge Could Be The Oldest Construction
When visiting Whiterun, one of the most impressive sights in the city is without a doubt the Skyforge perched between the headquarters of the Companions and Dragonsreach. The forge is manned by Eorlund Gray-Mane, who, despite being technically neutral, works quite often with the Companions to provide them weapons.
The Skyforge is an immense historical relic, a location that has been preserved for centuries. In fact, the place is said to date all the way back to the Dawn Era, which is crazy since this era is when the universe was first created according to Elder Scrolls role. If this is really true, it’s without a doubt the oldest place in all of Skyrim.
2 Giants Have Always Been Protected
Many kingdoms and races have clashed in the province of Skyrim, but one species in particular has been left to its own devices for as long as the residents of Skyrim can remember. Giants, among the most daunting enemies in the game, are sort of a group apart, a semi-intelligent species that has acted perfectly neutral.
Giants have never been involved in any political matters in Skyrim, and they’ve actually been protected by local authorities for quite some time. Some stories do state, however, that they once shared some type of bond or even allegiance with the Dwemer, but this likely wasn’t anything significant.
1 Nords Of Skyrim Were Once Obsessed With Expansion
During the Fourth Era and the current events of Skyrim, Nords aren’t exactly concerned with the topic of expansion. The main priority is to ensure their home province is peaceful and strong, even when controlled by the Empire. With a civil war raging, expansion wars definitely aren’t on the table as an option.
However, there was once a time when Nords were quite the conquerors, despite the victim narrative that Ulfric Stormcloak often likes to propagate. Nords were known to have captured areas from neighboring provinces, including parts of Morrowind, High Rock, and even Cyrodiil.
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